Method of stretching tubular garments



April 26, 1932. E. A. EMERY ET AL METHOD OF STRETCHING TUBULAR GRMENTS Filed Oct. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIIAUJLI...

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METHOD OF STRETCHING TUBULAR GARMENTS Filed Oct. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 /5 A52 45 5/ /5 49/ ff 4 9 fa. a

I n c 4 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDGAR A. EMERY AND ORLIS V. BOWDEN, F DALLASfTEXAS, ASSIGNORS '..DO BBODI H. ASHBY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS ua'rion or s'rnarcmne TUBULAR GA'RMENTS Application led October 28, 1929. Serial No. 403,029.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of stretching tubular garments.

One of the Worst problems confronting the cleaners today lis a means 'of accurately stretching wet washed trousers. It is necessary to either use a press or a` steam board for this purpose which should be used for pressing and nothing else. Our invention has many advantages and while its manufacturing cost is small its purpose and use saves a considerable amount of time and labor.

One object of the invention is to provide a means whereby trousers, when wet washed or otherwise cleaned, can be `stretched to their naturalwidth and length. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby trousers N can be stretched without necessitating the t ing up of valuable machinery and expensive help.

A particular object of the invention `is to providemeans whereby in carrying out the method the tubular garment is suitably supported and while so supported live steam is liberated throughout the length thereof to penetrate the fabric, thus preparing the same for both transverse or lateral and longitudi nal stretchingfto bring the garment to the desired size.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

',Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a device constructed in'accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is aplan, vievv-, partly in section, showing independent expanding means for the stretching' members,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device, partly in section, t

Fig. l4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of- Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is-a partial front elevation, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view illustrat.

ing the position ofthe stretching members when the length 'of the trouser leg isl to be pulled.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates an upright support having a tubular head 1 1 extending from the same. The, support 1s hollowed so as to receive a suitable steam pipe 12, the steam therein being controlled by a.

valve 13 in' connection with a pipe 14 from a suitable steam supply source. The head 11 is suitably anged or threaded so that the steam pipe 12 can be fastened into thel same. Ports 15 are spaced in the head so' as to furnish dry steam when desired. A drain 16 .is fastened to the bottom of the steam head 11 having a port 17 therein, whereby any water that may be in the head, due tothe condensation of steam, will be suitably drained from the head. This water, due to the slope of the drain, will, by gravity, flow through the port 17 in the drain. This port can be suitably connected with a pipe so that the Water' may be disposed of by any suitable means. Y

Tubular stretching members 18 and 18 are expandably fastened to the head 11 by means of a set of linkages A and B. A bearin 19 on one end of each of said-stretching members suitably supports and pivots said members to the set of linkages A, as is best shown in Fig. 2. On the opposite end of the tubular stretching members 18 and 18 a slotted bearing 19 is suitably placed to lslidably pivot the linkages B and support the stretching members. The linkages A, as best illustrated in Fig.

2, are made up of parts 20, 21, 2,2 and 23. These parts are pivoted together b suitable studs or bolts 24 and the action o the linkage is as follows. One end ofthe links 20 and 4'23 are securely pivoted to the steam head 11 ,in any" suitable place, while the other ends of said links are pivotally secured to the bearings 19 on thestretching members 18 and l18. One end of the links 21 and 22 are also pivoted to the bearings 19 on the stretching members 18 and 18', working in connection with the 'links 20 and 23. The vopposite ends of the links 21 and 22 are pivotally fastened 'in any suitable manner, to a slide 24, which upon the opening and closing action of the linkages slides in a horizontal plane in order that the linkages will be expanded evenly. The coil spring 25, which is fastened at one end to the slide 24 and atxthe other end to a xed'part 26 on the steam head "11, tends to keep the linkages at all times a closed position.

The linkages B, best illustrated in Fig. 2, are comiosed of members 27, 28, 29 and30. One en of the links'27 and 30.is securely .pivoted to the steam head 11 in any suitable place, while the opposite ends of said links are slidably pivoted to the slotted bearings 19. One end of the links 28 and 29, working in connection with the links 27 and 30, are also slidably pivoted to the slotted bearings 19', in any suitable manner.

.The opposite end of the links 28 and 29 are suitably pivoted to a slide 31. The slide 31, working on top of the steam head 11, retains the linkages in a fixed plane in order that their expansion will be thesame on either side of the steam head. A coiled spring 32-fastened at one end to the slide 31 and at end thereof pivotally fastened to a part of said bell crank, the other end of this rodbeinpivotally fastened to the foot pedal 41.

rom the foregoing description of the linkagesy A and B, it is evident that these linkages may be expanded independently of each -other due to the slotted arrangement, as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, if it is desired,

-the slotted bearings can be used to the same advantage on the front linkages A, as well as the linkages B.

One end of a suitable rod 33', which may p either be of a rigid or pliable material, is

fastened to'the lug 34 on the slide 24, while the other end of the rod is pivotally fastened to an arm of the bell crank 35. The bell crank 35, being securely pivoted to the upright support 10 in any suitable place, is

actuated by a rod 36 which is fastened to a foot pedal 37. The foot vpedal 37 pivots on a bearing 38, by any suitable means, and its position is controlled by a toothed member 39,

which is engaged bya tooth 39 made integral with the foot pedal 37. Thus it is evident that when the. foot pedal 37 is pressed downward the linkages A will be expanded and when so expanded will tightly press the tubular stretching members against the cuff of a trouser leg. While this position of the linkages is held, due to the engagementof the tooth on the foot lever 37 with the toothed member 39, which may be either made integral'with or fastened to the support 10, the rear linkages B may be expanded or adjusted by the foot pedal 41, which also has a tooth 42 made integral with the pedal and thatcan be engaged with the toothed member 43 on the support 10.

A cover 48, as shown in Fig. 1, can be used, if desirable, to cover the entire working mechanism of the linkages over the steam column, in order to protect the trousers from any of the moving parts of the device.

The tubular stretching members 18 and 18 have at one end thereof inlet connections 49 to which are attached suitable swiveled or flexible steam conveyors 50. TheseV steam .conveyors are connected with a valve 51 by any suitable means, this valve being used for the purpose of regulating the steam which comes through the pipe 52 from the steam line l2. Outlet connections 53, being suitably located in each of the tubular stretching members 18 and 18' are connected at the lower end thereof with a suitable discharge pipe 54, which may be directly connected n with a suitable drain. The purpose of this connection is for a drain as well as an outlet for what steam may accumulate in the tubular members. The purpose of the steam being applied to the tubular members is to heat them so that steam will not condense thereon. However, our invention is not to be limited to the use of steam as a heating agent. These arms may be heated by electricity or any other suitable means. I

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that the device is operated as follows: The foot pedals are raised, the

springs on both the linkages pulling thetubular stretching members close to the side o f the steam head. A trouser leg is then pulled on these stretching, members until the cuil" of the trouser leg is." in alinement withA the linkages A. These linkages are then expanded by the foot pedal 37, steam of course, being injected into the trouser leg as soon as the leg is placed on the device, by slightly vopening the valve 13 inthe steam line.

As soon as the steam in the trouser leg has allowed the cuffs of the same to be stretched as far as the cloth will permit -without either ripping the seams or tearing the cloth, it is evident that with the tubular stretching members in the position shown in Fig. 6, that by catching hold of the trousers at thewaist thereof and pulling same by hand, the cuff being securely held due to the Aexpansion of fao is such, by the use of the steam valve 51, that v stretched practically in the1r dry state.

It has been found that when the elastic limit of the fabric has been reached in stretching, the operator instantly becomes aware of this condition and may discontinue the operation before injuring the fabric. This is due probably to the added resistance offered the stretching operation when the limit has been reached. A pair of trouserswhich are wet washed and shrink up, perhaps two inches ih widthand several inches in length, will oer such added resistance when stretched to their originalsi-ze, that the operator will feel thev same in the operation of the machine and stop the stretching.

What we claim is:

1.. Thel method of (stretching tubular garments, which` consists in supporting said garment and at the-same time introducing steam. into the same throughout its length, holding one end of said garment and pulhng the 's ame longitudinally to stretch it to the required length, and then stretching said garment transveiisely to the desired width.

2. The methodof'stretching tubular garments, .whichconsists in supportingsaid garment and at the same time introducing steam into the same throughout its-length, stretching one end of said garment transversely whereby it is held and pulling said garment longitudinally to stretch it to the required length, and then stretching the garment transversely to the desired width,steam being discharged Within the tubular garment during the entire stretching operation.

3. The method of stretching tubular garments,"Whic-h cnsists in dicharging wet steam withinthe garment and at the same time stretching the same in two directions.

4. The method of stretching tubular garmentsh which consists in discharging wet steam within the garment and at thesame tional step of simultaneously stretching the tubular member longitudinally while stretchin it transversely.

n testimony whereof we affixy our signatures. j

EDGAR A. EMERY. ORLIS V. BOWDEN.

time stretching the same inftwo directions,.

until the natural limit of elasticity of the fabric-is reached. C

5. The method' 4of stretching tubular arments, which consists in supporting one o the tubular members of a washed garment, liber-A ating live steam within said tubular garment member, then stretching said tubular member transversely while supported and while subjectd to said and then stretching said Y tubular member'lengthwise while supported ments as set forth 'fin withjthe 'addi-l v .6. The. methodoistretching-tubular garv 

